Device for edge sensing addressing plates or the like



SePt- 7, 1954 G. H. LEONARD 2,688,443

DEvIcE FOR EDGE sENsING AnDREssING PLATES 0R THE LIKE Filed Aug. 2. 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 u Q E K w E E x v s* nl 'l l [L l flll Il L il lll@ j l Il l To L Off- HH f "LIME IIL il Hll l n EMI u im: nml 11| 111m Il "l ru u [u [u] 111m ILHIIL l t \L Il E 2114i! IL I H Il lllu 1E I u Q l l fm- L a? o f N ma ll lu un 111m lm E *Mill Il IILIHI llllll lll u r 1 P u] xg 1111i! Il HTI IIHI IIH S L t w l nml I t llllL l V g w fr* nu n. f Il ll jll l w Il l x 11H lI N\ gli N v \g; E. E@ ma wg Q E l S I! j s* t i JNVENTOR.

I l 's GEORGE H LEONARD EEY 'El u/ //w' ATTORNEY SePt- 7, 1954 G. H. LEONARD 2,688,443

DEVICE FOR EDGE SENSING ADDRESSING PLATES OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 2, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,2M 6 27 /7 TM INVENTOR. 2l 7 30 BYGeomu- H Eo/mno ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7, 17954y DEVICE .FOR `EDGE .SENSING ADDRESSING PLATES R THELI'KE .George H. Leonard, Darien, Conn., assigner to Stamford Tool & .Die.Corp., Stamford, Conn., a-corporationfoffConnecticut Application August'Z, 1950, Serial No. 177,269

-4 Claims. l

This invention relates to vselector `or sensing devices and more particularly to devices which may be preset to recognise certain combinations of mechanical conditions.

While not limited thereto, the linvention is particularly useful `in the automatic addressing machine art wherein addressing plates or stencils are coded with edge notches or perforations. In the useof automatic addressing machines it is often desired to employ only selected ones of the platesor stencils in a large group thereof. For example, the plates may bear the names and Yaddresses of subscribers to a periodical and the edges of the plates may be notched according to a code to indicate the expiration date ofthe subscription. Then in soliciting for subscription renewals it may be desirable to select those plates representing subscriptions which expire on certain months and years. Sensingmeans of the prior art Vhave proved inadequate inmany instanceaas for example when it is desired to select Vplates coded for certain combinations of 1months and years. It is therefore ageneral object of this invention to provide a sensing device .which is Aversatile rand free from the limitations of prior art devices.

:It is another objectto provide a sensing device whichmay'easily be preset 4for 4any desired cornbination of coded notches or the like.

`Itis a further object to provide a device `which is.simp1e and economical to construct in that a relatively small number of different parts are used.

These and othery objects of the invention will n' be 4apparent to :those skilled in the -art from the :following description, having reference to the appended drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view lof a device constructed according tothe teachings of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view 'taken on the line 4-4-of Fig. i1.

Fig. '5 is a partial sectional view takenon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates parts of Fig. 5 in displaced positions.

4Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, a Vframe includes base I0, end members Il and 1|2-and bolts i3, `I4 and |5. A yplurality of partitions vI6 are vmaintained in spaced relation `on-bolts i3, I4 and `i5 by means lof cylindrical spacers Il. 'The partitions are 'cut away cri at |18 to accommodatebars 20 and 2| having a T-sha-ped vcross section. The ends of bars 20 and 2| are provided with centers for rotation in bearing studs 22 in 'end members and I2, as shown to advantage in the broken away portion -of Fig. v1. Nuts 23 hold the bearing studs securely in position. Bars 20 and 2| are thereby mounted in the frame for rotation on respective parallel longitudinal axes.

Shafts 25 andZS extending between end members and |2 and through partitions IS are provided with-bearing rollers 2l disposed between the partitions. A removable pin 30 having a knurled head 3| is disposed in axial holes through end membersll and l2 and the several partitions IS. f

Bearing rollers 21 and pin 30 support sensing links 3|, 32, `33 and 34 for limited reciprocation at right angles with rotatable bars 2D and 2|. The-sensing links are bifurcated at one end for reciprooation"onrollers 21 and are slotted at 36 for engagement on pin 30, the'slot 3B limiting the reciprocati-on of the links. The partitions IS, bearing rollers 2'| andgpin 3l) may be considered as providing guides for the sensing links. The sensing links are stamped from sheet metal with two different dies; it will be noted that links 3| and 33 are the same, one being turned over relative tothe other. Likewise, links 32 and 34 are the same.

-Sensing links 3| and 32 form a pair since they have extensions acting on opposite sides of bar 20. Likewise, links 33 and 34 form a pair since they act, when urged toward bar 2|, to rotate the bar 2| in opposite directions. The manner in which a single sensing link 34 tends to rotate bar 2| When link 34 is ydisplaced to the left is shown to advantage in Fig. 6. It will be noted that the amount of rotation oi bar 2| is limited by engagement of the bar with the beveled edge 38 of the sensing link.

A'portion 40 of vbase 'l0 is provided with tracks 4| and 42 Within'whch ends "43 and 44 of a feeler carriage ride. The carriage includes a shaft 45 secured to ends A43 and `44, and a plurality of feeler arms 46 and 46 secured on the shaft in spaced relationship by means of cylindrical spacers '41. Rods 48 and 49 stiften the assembly and provide stops limiting the extent which feeler arms 46 can pivot about shaft 45.

A-plate 50, which may bean embossed addressing plate, is `provided with notches at selected positions -along one edge. These notches may indicate various facts about the corresponding person, as for example, vthe expiration date of his subscription to a periodical, or the particular books or periodicals which have been sent to him.

An electrical switch 55 is disposed on the portion 40 of base l0 so as to be acted upon by end 44 sliding in groove 42. The switch controls the flow of current from battery 56 to light 51 or any other suitable indicator or mechanism.

The device of this invention is used in conjunction with a code. For example, the rst twelve spaces defined by partitions IE may represent the twelve months of the year and the next ve spaces may represent the years 1951 through 1955. The addressing plate 50 is notched according to the same code. Let us assume that it is desired to select all plates notched according to any one of the following six months in two different years:

October 1953 January 1954 November 1953 February 1954 December 1953 March 1954 rIhe pin 30 is withdrawn and eight sensing links are positioned in the appropriate guides as shown in Fig. 1. The upper rotatable bar 20 is associated with the year 1953 and can be acted upon by the link 32 (Fig. 3) in the 1953 guide. Sensing links 3| (Fig. 2) can also act oneupper bar 20 from guide positions corresponding to October, November and December. The lower rotatable bar 2i is associated with the year 1954 and can be acted upon by the link 34 (Fig. 5) in the 1954 guide. Sensing links 33 (Fig. 4) can also act on lower bar 2l from guide positions corresponding to January, February and March.

In operation, the notched edge of a plate 50 is urged against the depending ends of feeler arms 46 and up against stops 59 projecting from ends 43 and 44. The feeler arms 46 not opposite a notch in plate 50 are pivoted about shaft 45 to a position where they cannot escape a sensing link. As plate 50 is pushed further against stops 59, the entire feeler arm assembly is moved in tracks 4I and 42 until some of those feeler arms 46 opposite a notch in plate 5t engage the ends of sensing links. Further movement of the plate 5U and the feeler arm assembly is prevented if the feeler arms engage two sensing links which bear against opposite sides of one rotatable bar. In the example shown in Fig. 1, a feeler arm 45 engages the sensing link in the October guide which act against the upper part of rotatable barv 29; and another feeler arm 46 engages the sensing link in the 1953 guide which acts against the lower part of rotatable bar 20. The parts are then as shown in Fig. 2 and no further leftward displacement is possible. This indicates that the plate 59 is one notched for one of the six months desired. The fact that lamp 51 remains on may be used as an indication that a desired plate has been found. If one of the two effective notches had been absent from plate 50, the sensing links and the feeler arm assembly would have been free to move a distance leftward suflicient to act on switch 55 and cause a negative indication from lamp 51. When a rotatable bar is acted upon on only one side, it rotates to a position as shown in Fig. 6 and this permits a greater leftward displacement of the sensing link.

While the invention has been shown and described as having an electric light to indicate the displacement of the feeler arm assembly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other means may be employed, and that the resistance encountered may be employed mechanically to control the operation of an addressing machine in a manner now used in the art.

It is within the contemplation of this invention to provide more than two rotatable bars 2| and 22, and more appropriately related sensing links, when required by the nature of the information to be sensed.

The invention is not limited to use with plates having notched edges. For example, addressing stencils with information in the `,form of perforations may be sensed. It will be recognized that the teachings of the invention are applicable to the sensing of a variety of contours both continuous and discontinuous.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that this has been done by way of illustration rather than limitation, and that various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is'.

1. 1n a device for selectively sensing the contour of a plate or the like, the combination com.- prising a frame, a, plurality of bars mounted on the frame for rotation about parallel longitudinal axes, a plurality of pairs of sensing links, there being at least one pair for each rotatable bar, guide means on the frame for said links permitting limited reciprocation of said links at right angles to said rotatable bars, one of each of said pairs of links being adapted to rotate the corresponding bar in one direction and the other in the opposite direction, and feeler arm means disposed between said plate and said sensing links to be acted upon by said plate for simultaneously urging a number of said sensing links towards said bars according to the contour of said plate.

2. In a device for selectively sensing the contour of a plate or the like, the combination of a frame, a plurality of bars mounted on the frame for rotation on longitudinal axes, a pair of sensing links for each bar mounted on the frame at predetermined positions along the bars for reciprocati-on at right angles thereto, one of each of said pairs of links being adapted to rotate the corresponding bar in one direction and the other in the opposite direction, and feeler arm means disposed between said plate and said sensing links to be acted upon by said plate for simultaneously urging a number of said sensing links towards said bars according to the contour of said plate, whereby when both links of a pair are urged toward the corresponding bar responsively to said plate, aresistance to movementv is encountered which is indicative of the contour of said plate.

3. In a device for selectively sensing the contour of a plate or the like, the combination of a frame, two parallel bars mounted on the frame for rotation on their longitudinal axes, a plurality of bifurcated sensing links, a plurality of guides for said links on the frame extending at right angles with said bars, and means for removably locating said bifurcated sensing links in said guides for limited reciprocation therein, a pair of said b-ifurcated sensing links being arranged to rotate one of said bars in opposite directions when urged toward the bar, another pair of said bifurcated sensing links being arranged to rotate the other of said bars in opposite directions when urged toward the bar, and feeler arm means disposed between said plate and said sensing links to be acted upon by said plate for simultaneously urging a number of said sensing links towards said bars according to the contour of said plate, Whereby when any pair of bifurcated sensinglinks is urged toward the bars a resistance to motion is encountered which is indicative of the contour of said plate.

4. The combination as dened in claim 3, wherein said feeler arm means comprises, a carriage reciprocable on said frame, a shaft mounted on said carriage, a plurality of arms pivotally mounted on said shaft, said arms being oriented for engagement at one end by said plate and for engagement at the other end with respective ones of said sensing links, each of said arms being rotated when engaged by a protrusion on said plate to a position precluding engagement with the respective sensing link.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,259,051 Tyzzer Oct. 14, 1941 2,345,858 Nevin Apr. 4, 1944 2,364,202 Ford Dec. 5, 1944 2478,275 Johnson Aug. 9, 1949 2,484,111 Mills Oct. 11, 1949 

